Astronomical Image Processing System: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 06:28, 30 August 2016

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{{Infobox software

| name = AIPS

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{{Portal|Astronomy}}

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The '''Astronomical Image Processing System''' (AIPS) is a software package to support the reduction and analysis of data taken with radio telescopes. Developed predominantly for use with the then under-construction [[Very Large Array|VLA]], the generality inherent in its design allowed it to become the standard data-reduction package for most radio interferometers, including [[VLBI]]. Limited single-dish capability is also featured. Although partially replaced by CASA, it continues to evolve and remains widely used.

==History==

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Development of AIPS started at [[NRAO]] in 1978, two years before the VLA became fully operational. Originally written in [[FORTRAN 66]], AIPS has used [[FORTRAN 77]] since 1989. The very first AIPS installation was on a [[MODCOMP]] computer, but the package's portability has led to it being installed on many different systems. Binary versions are today available for users of [[Linux]], [[Mac OS]] and [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]].<ref name="AIPSFAQ">{{cite web|last1=Greisen|first1=Eric|title=The AIPS FAQ|url=http://www.aips.nrao.edu/aips_faq.html|website=AIPS|publisher=NRAO}}</ref>

At the same time, the capabilities of AIPS have also greatly expanded. Initial usage was focused on the VLA, but it has gone on to be used to reduce data from practically all radio interferometers, including [[MERLIN]] and the [[GMRT]] and, to a lesser extent, the [[Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope|WSRT]] and [[Australia Telescope Compact Array|ATCA]]. The ability to calibrate VLBI data (including [[space VLBI]]) was added in the 1990s, primarily to support operations with the [[Very Long Baseline Array|VLBA]], but in the process becoming the main data-reduction package for the [[European VLBI Network|EVN]] and combined VLBA/EVN observations (Global VLBI). Single-dish support was also added in the 1980s, with particular application to NRAO's [[ARO 12m Radio Telescope|12-m radio telescope]] and the 91-m transit telescope.

AIPS has now been in use for over 30 years and has even outlived its supposed replacement [[AIPS++]], which was eventually rebranded as CASA.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Jaeger|first1=Shannon|title=The Common Astronomy Software Applications (CASA)|journal=Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems ASP Conference Series|date=2008|volume=394|url=http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2008ASPC..394..623J}}</ref>. CASA has gone on to be the main data-reduction package for the upgraded VLA (EVLA) and [[Atacama Large Millimeter Array|ALMA]], but AIPS remains able, to a large degree, to process data from these state-of-the-art instruments. Despite its age and limited resources, AIPS remains widely used and under active development. AIPS is free software and is covered by the terms of the [[GNU General Public License]].

==Description==